Metallic envelop-seal.



UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

some 13. Rmssre, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Emma-1o mIv'aiLoP-sEA-IL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. REIssIc, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the countyo'f Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMetallic Envelop-Seals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in metallic envelop seals, theobject of the invention being to provide a seal which will prevent anypossibility of the fraudulent opening of an envelop without detection.

A further object is to provide a simple inexpensive device of thecharacter stated which may be attached to any ordinary envelop, andwhich will occupy but relatively small space when in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations and arrangements ofparts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in rear elevationillustrating my improvements in position on an envelop. Fig. 2 is a viewin elevation of the seal removed. Fig. 3 is a view in section on theline 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one member of myimproved seal,

and Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the casing 9. j

1 represents an ordinary envelop having end flaps 2, 2, to which abottom fla 3 is mucilaged, and 4 represents the or inary covering flap.

To the inner face of the back of the envelop, formed by the end flaps 2and the bottom flap 3, I secure the member 5 of my improved seal. Thismember 5 consists of a fiat thin metallic late having tubular studs 6pressed from tiieir end portions, and a similar tubular stud 7 pressedfrom the intermediate portion of the plate midway its ends. Thesetubular studs 6 are forced through the flaps of the envelop and whenpositioned through washers 8, are upset so,

that the washers, studs and plate constitute rivets which permanentlyattach the member 5 to the envelop.

It will be noted particularly by reference to Fig. 1, that the plate issecured by the three rivets to the three flaps constitutin the back ofthe envelop, so that none 0 these flaps can be moved without tearing thespecification'of Letters Patent.

Application filed Qctpber 15, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Serial No. 7, 95,188.

same. An oblong casing 9 also of metal is secured to the plateintermediate its ends, and this casing is provided at opposite sideswith flanges 10 which are preferably soldered and also secured by rivets11 to the plate to prevent possibility of fraudulent removal. The sidesof the casing 9 are stamped forming inwardly projecting shoulders 12which securely hold the other member 13 of the seal in locked positionas will now be described. The member 13 also consists of a relativelythin blank or sheet of metal having a tubular stud 14 stamped from thesame at one end and projected through the covering flap 4, then througha washer 8, and upset against the same to secure the member 13 to thecoverin flap. It is to be understood that this mem er 13 is against theinner face of the covering flap and at its free end projects beyond thecovering flap and is provided with a central longitudinal recess 15forming a spring fork having recesses 16 in the side edges thereofintowhich the spring tongues 14 project and hold the member 13 againstwithdrawal when once positioned in the casing. The ends of the forkedmember 13 are be"- eled as shown at 17 to facilitate its entrance intothe end of the casing. When the covering flap 4 of the envelop is movedinto closed position, the member 13 must be manipulated to find anentrance into the easing 9, and when forced into the casing will becontracted transversely until the member 13 is in its extreme position,when the shoulders 12 will enter the recesses 16 and effectually lockthe members together, preventing any possibility of opening the envelopwithout destroying the same.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangementof parts described without departing from my in vention, and hence I donot limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myselfat liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters. Patent is:

The combination with an envelop having end flaps, a bottom flap and aclosing flap, of a metal seal comprising two members, one memberconsisting of an elongated flat ack of the envelop and having threetubular studs, a stud projected through each end flap, Washers on theoutside of said end and 5 bottom flaps through which said studs areprojected and upset, an oblong casing secured to the plate at the centerthereof and hating inwardly projecting shoulders at opposite sides, theother member comprising a flat metal plate having a tubular studadjacent one end projected through the clos- 1 ing flap of the envelopand upset against 1 noneeaa a washer on the outside of said closingflap, said last-mentioned member having a-longitudinal recess in itstree end, and having recesses in the side edges thereof to receive theshoulder when said last-mentioned member is moved into the casing,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof TL have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

. JUHN n. nnrssre.

Witnesses M. E. Drrros, Grams, E. .lPo'rrs.

